Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



2 Sheets-$heet l Dec. 18, 1928.

, J. F. OCONNOR I FRICTION SHOCK- ABSORBING MECHANISM I Flled July 231927 I J. F. O'CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed July 23,1927 Dec. 18, 1923.-

zfi z! Pastas Dec. s, 192

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-.1.

JOHN r. oconnon, or 0310100, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR row. H. MINER, Inc-,or

.CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFDEIJAWARE.

rmc'rion snoop-momma ,arncrmmsu.

Application fled- July as, 1927. ser al no. 207,946.-

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbingmechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shockabsorbingmechanism, especially adapted for railway draft riggings'havingrelat'ively light frictional resistance during the first. part ofthe compression stroke, followed by heavier frictional resistance duringthe remainder ofthe compression stroke.

Another Object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbingmechanism of the I character specified including a friction casing and acentral friction element with which pressure transmitting frictionmembers cooperate, the pressure transmitting elements havingwedgingengagement with a plurality of'friction shoes, certain of which havefrictional engagement with the casing and wherein the friction shoeshave cooperating friction surfaces also.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbingmechanism as specified, including a friction casing, accu- 2 'tralfriction element and friction wedge means interposed between the centralfriction element and the walls of the casing, said friction meanscomprising a plurality of cooperating friction shoes, wherein thefriction shoes are actuated in sequence to produce relatively lightfrictional resistance during the first part of the compression strokefollowed by heavier frictional resistance during the remainder of thecompres- -s ion stroke. J. I

Other Objects of the invention will more clearly. appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following. In the drawings, forming apart specification, Figure 1 isa longitudinal, horizontal sectional viewof a railway draft rigging showing myimprovements inconnectiontherewith. Figure 2 is a front end elevational .vicw of theshock absorbing mechanism proper. Figure dis a vertical,

- transverse, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 33of 1. Figure/l is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional ,view of the frontend portion only of. the shock absorbing mechanism illustrated in Figure1, the section corresponding substantially to the h'ne 44 of Figure 1;;And

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the pressuretransmitting elements emof this ployed in connection with.my.improvedmechanigm; I In sai drawings, 10.10 indicate channel shapedcenter or draft sills of a railwaycar I underframeha-ving the usualfront stop lugs -11 11 and rear stop lugs 12+'12 secured to the 1nnersides thereof. The inner end por-. t1on of the draw bar is designated by13" to which is operatively connected a yoke 14 of-well 'known form. Theshock absorbing mechanism proper, aswell as the frontmain follower 15are disposed withinthe yoke yoke in turnis supported by a detachablesaddle plate 16' secured to the .draft sills. I

14 and the My improved. shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown,comprises broadly, a combined friction shell andxspring cage A prov1dedwith liners B'B; two wedge blocks CG; two inner friction shoes DD; two

outer friction shoes EE; a relatively heavy sprlng resistance elementF"; a lighter spring resistanceelement ,G; a pair ofspring fol.- lowersH and J and a central friction postK.

The combined friction shell and spring cage A is in the form of asubstantially rectangular box-like casing having longitudinally disposedspaced side walls 17l7,

horizontally disposed spaced top and bottom walls 18-18 and a transversevertical rear end wall 19. The end wall 19 cooperates withthe stoplugs12 in the manner of the.

' usual rear follower. The front end portions of the side walls 17 areinwardly thickenedas indicated at 20, the thickened sections 20 beingvertically slotted inwardly of the front end of the casing to provideseats 21 adapted to cooperate with the liners to anchor the same to thecasing. The top and bottom walls of the casing have transverselyextending ribs 22 on the inner sides thereof,

the ribs 22 cooperating With means for:

limiting the inward movement of the friction I hereinafter more clearlypointed post K, as out.

The liners B which are detachably mounted on the side alls 17 of thecasing A are of similar design, each being in the form of a relativelyheavy rectangular plate.

The liners B have longitudinally disposed fiat friction surfaces 122 onthe nner sides thereof, the surfaces 122 preferably converging inwardlyof the mechanism. At the rear s end, each liner has a verticallydisposed i relatively broad rib 23 onthe outer side thereof,t he rib 23snugly fitting the corresponding seat 21 in one of the s1dewalls17- inthe casingv A. It will be evident that, with the ribs 23 of the liners'Bseated in the I seats 21, the liners are anchored against Ian;

'p'lained. i

gitudinal movement with ,respectft'o the ing.'- As most clearly shown inFigures 2 and 3, the liners B are-cut awayiat the-top and bottom sides,for an appreciable distance, thereby leaving lugs; 24 at the vrear. endsthereof adapted to cooperate with means for retaining the 'frictionpostassembled with 'thecasing as hereinafterezt- The friction post-Kcomprises acentral,

/ heavy, vertically disposed plate-like section "provided with. {top andbottom plate-lilre wings 25*25. The wings 25' extend substantially forthe entire-width .of the casing A and are provided with recesses ornotches 26 at the rear endsthereof, each notch 26 being adapted toreceive one 'of the In s 24 of amount of inward movement of the post-Kduring the initial portion of the compression of the mechanism. It willalso be noted that a clearance is provided between the inner walls ofthe notches 26 and the lugs 24.

tom Walls of the casing to This clearance is provided to facilitateassemblin of the mechanism. "The inner end edges 0 the vwings 25 arenormally slightly spaced from the ribs 22 on the top and botrmit 'of thelimited movement of the post referred to. theinnef ends of the wings 25and the ribs 22 has been taken-up, the ribs 22 ositivelj limit themovement of the post and hold the same stationary during the lastoperation of the compression stroke of the mechanism.

The wedge blocks C are of" similar design, eachhaving a flat frontendface bearing directly on the inner side of the main follower 15, Eachblock C is provided with a longitudinally disposed. flat frictionsurface 27 onfthe inner-side thereof ada ted to co,-

operatewith the friction post On the outerside, each wedge block C isrov'ided with apair'of spaced wed faces, t. e inners most wedge facethereo being. designated by 28 and the outermost face belng designatedby 29. As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the wedge fac 28 is disposedat a blunter-angle with respect to the'longitudinal axis.

of the mechanism than the wedge. face 29, At the extreme rear end eachblock G is-provided with a substantially'triangu lar laterally inwardly.projecting lug 30 which cooperates with a similarly sha d pocket 31"provided at the same side/o the friction hereinbefore When the clearancebetween st K. As willbe clear upon reference to figures '-1,; 4 -'and 5,the lugsf30 permit free v inward movement of the wedge block C butpositively @miting outward movement thereof by engagementwith 'thewallsof the pockl0 f ets';31 ..o f' the 'post Ki .t a

" The friction shoes D are of similar design.

The shoes Dias-shown in Figurevl are disposed at opposite sides of thewedge blocks 6 *and':have'-frontavvedge faces 32 cooperat- .75

ing with the wedge faces 28 of the blocksrC.

0n" the outer sides "the shoes D} are provided ith flat? irictionsurfacesiea hicli coo erate with the shoes E; The-inner ends of theshoes D present flat transverse; abutment faces' 8 which' coope'ratewitlr 'the's 'ringfollower di The friction-shoes E, which are two inumber; are ofsimilar design and are mas posed between the shoes Dandthe liners B. Eachshoe E has" alongitudinally disposed fiat outerfriction surface 34 adapted t'o jco operate with the frictionsurface 122of "the corresponding-liner B. On the inner side each shoe E resents. alongitudinally dis-' posed flat frlction, surface 35 cooperating withthe friction surface .33' of the 5 0e D at 7 the corresponding side ofthe me hanism. Each friction shoe E has a wedge face 36 at the forwardend thereof adapted to coo rate with the wedge face 29 of the wedge bock atthe same side of they mechanism, the wedge face 36 .being corrondingly inclined to the wedge face 29. Xs most clearly shown in Figure1, the wedgefaces 36 of the shoes. E'are normally s aced from the wed efaces 29 of the wedge lock 0, the shoes being normally disposed inspaced relation with re-'. spect to the wedge'block C when the mechamsmis in the full release position.

The sprin proved \shoc absorbing mechanism comprises the light ,innercoil G and the heavier outermost coil F. Both of, thejooils of thespring resistance means have their rear ends bearing directly on the endwall 19 of the 1 casing. The forward end of the outer coil F bears onthe inner side of the spring follower H, which isinterposed betweenthiscoil and the friction shoes E. The spring the forward side, thespring follower H is also provided with forwardly pro'ecting 0relatively heavy ribs 38,- which r irecli y on the mner ends of thefriction shoes The .inner'coil of thespring resistance has theforward-end thereof-seated within the:.,.-;;;,..i spring follower J, isin the form of a 5" The frontfend rtion of the hollow ca'fi).

spring f0 ower cap J bears irectly on the inner ends of-the frictionshoes D.- e

e The entire friction-Wm includin wedges CG,the shoes resistance meansof my im- 1 Dand-the 811008 no wings '25 of the-friction post casing A.'

In assembling sorbing mechanism, the main springsF and G together withthe spring followers H and J are first inserted into the casing A. The

friction system of the mechanism is then assembled by placing the wedgeblocks (3, the

shoes D and the shoes E in position between the top and bottom wings ofthe post K and also placing the liners B in contact with the outerfriction shoes E. With the parts thus assembled as aunit, the same arelaterally compressed to a sl ght extent until the ribs 23 will freelypass the side walls of the casing. The assembled ,unit is then insertedwithin the casing and the ribs 23 of the liners B brought'intoalignmentwith the seats 21 of the side walls 17 of the casing A. With the partslILthiS position, the friction unit is permitted to expand, therebyseating the ribs 23 in the seats 21 and anchoring the liners to thecasing A to hold the, same against longitudinal movement withrespect tothe casing.- When the parts of the mechanism are assembled, the springresistance elements F and G are placed under init al compression.

Inasmuch as the central spring resistance (at is placed under initialcompression, the tendency of the same to-expand will compensate for wearof the various friction and wedge faces by holding the'friction shoes Din intimate contact with the wedge faces of the block C at all times. Itis further pointed out that, due to the expansive action-of the springresistance G, the friction shoesD are wedged outwardly thereby forcingthe shoes E outwardly also laterally of the mechanism and pressingtheliners 3 against the side walls of the casing A, thereby maintainingtheribs 23 of ,the liners seated within the seats 21. I

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism assumingacompression stroke is as follows: .The main follower 15 and the casingA will be moved relatively toward each other, thereby forcing the wedgeblocks C inwardl of the casing against the spring resisted frictionshoes D. A wedging action will thus be set up between the wedges C andthe shoes D forcing the friction shoes D into intimate contact with thefriction shoes E and pressing the latter against the friction surfacesof the liners B. Due to this wedging action, t-he'wedges C will also beforced into tight frictional contact with the post K. On account of thefriction existing between the post K and the wedges C, the" post K willbe carried inwardly with the wedges C during the first part of thecompression stroke. The movement of the post my improved shock ab- Kinwardly in unison with the wedge blocks C will continue until movementof the post K is arrested by engagement of the wings 25 casing A. Uponmovement of the post K being arrested, the wedge blocks C will be forcedto slide on the post during the rethereof with the abutment ribs 22 ofthe mainder of the compression stroke of the mechanism. As the wedgeblocks slide inwardlyon the post K, the friction shoes D will be forcedinwardly on the friction surfaces of the shoes E opposed by the springresistance G. During this time the outer shoes E will be heldsubstantially station-- ary by the expansive action of the relativelyheavy spring resistance F. The inward movement of the shoes D withrespect to the shoes E will continue until the relatively keen faces 29of the wedge blocks C come into engagement with the keen Wedge faces 36of the friction shoes E. Upon engagement of the wedges C with the shoesE, the latter will be forced inwardly of the mechanism and spread apartdue to the wedging action between the wedge faces. cooperating wedgefaces of the shoes E and Inasmuch as the the wedge block C are keenerthan the co operating wedge faces of the shoes Dland the wedge blocks C,a heavier spreading action will be produced during the last part of thecompression stroke of the mechanism, thereby. greatly increasing thecapacity of the gear during this portion of the operation.

The compression stroke as described Will continue until the actuatingforce is reduced or inward movement'of the follower 15 is limited byengagement with the front end of the casing A. Upon engagement of thecas-.

ing A by the follower 15, the force will be transmitted directly throughthe casing to the stop lugs of the draft'sills, the casing serving as asolid column member to transmit the load and prevent the main springsfrom being unduly compressed. During release of the mechanism, uponreduction of the actuating force, the ex ansive action of the-springs Fand G will orce the friction shoes D and E outwardly. Inasmuch as thefriction post is forced inwardly during the early part of thecompression stroke sufiicient clearance is provided-between the lugs24-' and the walls of the recesses 26 of the wings 25 to allow a prelimnary movement of the post K with respect to the casing'A during initialrelease, thereby greatly facilitating the releasing action.

As the shoes D and E are forced out- I wardly, the friction post K willbe carried therewith until movement of the same is limited by the lugs24-on the lines B cooperating with the wings 25, as hereinbeforc pointedout. After the post has been arrested, the friction shoes D and E willcontinueto move outwardly carrying the wedge blocks C therewith.Movement of the outer MO I friction shoes E finally-stopped upon themain body portion of the spring follower; coming in engagement. withthe-(inner ends of -the; liners B. "In orderwtou revent any frombeingacarriedgiutwardly beyond-the'position shown" in Figure-1byfrictional-contact with the I to, effect successive cooperation ofsaid .-shoes; a central friction element'relati'vely 1 tendency of the;friction shoes.

shoes D, referably rovide .the shoes E with lateral. y outward dyextendinglugs 40 cooperating with an of the blocks C and st K. Thefriction shoes D will be force outwardly relatively block C is limitedby the lugs 30 thereof.

- sure transmitting spreading elements having frictional engagementwithsaid friction eleto the shoes E- until movement. of the wedge whichengage the post K. a

While I have herein shown and described the preferred manner of carryingout my invention, the same is merely illustrative,

successively and I contemplate all changes and modifications which comewithin the scope of the claims apended hereto. a

- I claim: 1. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combinationwith a combined-friction shell and spring cage; of a central frictionelement; a pair of wedge pressure transmitting members mbvablerelatively to the central element and having frictional engagement withsaid central friction ele-' ment; a plurality of friction shoes cooper-35- ating with said wedgepressure transmitting members,-said shoeshaving sliding frictional contact with each other, certain of said shoeshaving frictional engagement with the shell;

and spring resistance. means opposing inward movement of the shoes.

2. In a friction shock absorbing 'mechan-' ism, the combination with afriction shell;

of a central friction element; a pair of pressure transmitting wedgemembers having sliding movement on said central friction element;friction shoes having frictional contact-with the shell additionalfriction jshoes slidable on said first named shoes, all of said shoeshaving wedge faces adapted to-cooperate with said wedge ressuretransmitting members, said shoes eing engaged v by Isgid wedgepressure'transmitting mem e .and' spring resistance means opposinginward movement of the shoes.

3. Ina'fri'ction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination ,withaijfriction shell having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces; ofinnerv and, outer friction shoes having cooperating friction surfaces,said cuter shoes .cooperatin with said shell friction surfaces, eac ofsaid 8h08 having a I wedge face; wedge pressure transmitting meanshaving the wed facesthereof in constant engagement engaging withinJnotches 41in. the liners B. :The coopera t-. i'ng lugs40 and thenotches 41 'are of sub- :outer shoes after a predetermine thecooperating wedge :faces of certain of said Shoes and the-remainingshoes having the wedge faces thereof normallyxspac'ed Wedge faces of thewedgemeans aftera predetermined. compression ofthe' mechanism towhich-saidmeans movable,said' central element and means havingcooperating friction surfaces;,and spr ng resistance means opposingrelative; movement of all of said shoes with respect to-the frictionshells 4. In "a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the'combination witha friction shell from the cooperating faces of said means and adapted tobe engaged by said cooperating having longitudinally "disposed frictionsurfaces; a central friction member; presment and movable relativelythereto; outer friction shoes having frictional engagement with theshell friction surfaces; inner friction shoes having frictional contactwith said outer shoes, said pressure transmitting, spreadmgelementsengag ng said inner shoes during the entlre compression strokecompression stroke of the mechanism; and

means yielding opposing movement of said outer and inner shoes withrespect to the shell. a 5. In a frictionishock absorbing mechanism, thecombination with .a friction shell having longitudinally disposedfriction surfaces; of a central friction qnember; wedge members movablerelatively to said friction member and having frictional en ementtherewith, said wed e members 88.51% a plurality of we ge faces, saidwedge faces ofeach wedge member being disposed 11o at an angle tofeachother; inner'and outer friction .shoes having cooperating frictionaving',

surfaces, said outer shoes'having frictional engagement with the shellfriction surfaces, each shoe having a wedge face cooperating with one ofthe wedge faces of said wedge members, the cooperating wedge faces ofsaid outer shoes and wedge members being normallyspaced apart; andspring resist-- ance means oppos ng inward movement of saidinner andouter shoes. .6. In a friction shock absorb1ng'mechanism, thecombination with a friction shell having opposed interior frictionsurfaces; of i a central friction post; pressure; transmittingmembersrelatively movable with respect to the mittin "members having akeen wed eface and a lunt wedge face; two sets of riction" shoes,-thefriction shoes of each'set having and havin frictional engage-fmenttherewith, each of said pressure transcooperating friction surfaces andone of the said shell friction surfaces, one of the shoes of each sethaving keen wedge faces adapted to cooperate with the keen face of oneofsaid pressure transmitting members and the other shoe of each sethaving a blunt wedge face cooperating with the blunt wedge face of saidlast named pressure transmitting member; and means yieldingly opposinginward movement of said sets of shoes.

- 7, In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasing having interior friction surfaces; of a'main spring resistance;an additional spring resistance; a plurality of relatively movablecooperating friction elements, certain of which engage with the frictionsurfaces of said casing and are movable longitudinally thereof andresisted in their movement by said main spring resistance, movement ofthe remaining elements being resisted by said additional springresistance during the entire compression, stroke of the mechanism, saidadditional spring resistance also opposing relative movement of saidfriction elements; a central friction element; a wedge pres suretransmitting means cooperating with said central friction element andrelatively movable thereto, said wedge pressure transmitting meanscooperating with each of said relatively movable friction elementsduring the compression stroke of the mechanism.

8. In a friction shockvabsorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction shell; of a central friction posts; a plui ality of cooperatingrelatively movable friction elements, certain of which have engagementwith said shell and are relatively movable thereto; pressuretransmittingmeans havin frictional engagement with the post an wedge facescooperating with said last named elements and also having additionalwedge faces continuously cooperable with the re-' maining elements, allof said wedge faces being operative during the compression stroke of themechanism; a main sprin resistance op osing relative movement 0 thefriction s ell and the elements having engagement therewith; and anadditional s rin resistance 0 osin relative move-' ment of the shell andof the elements continuousl engagin the wedge independently of said rstnamed spring resistance.

9. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction shell; of a lurality of cooperating relatively mov:

able iction elements, certain of which have engagement with said shelland are relatively movable thereto; a central friction post; pressuretransmittin means relatively movable to the post and aving frictionalcontact therewith, said pressure transmitt' g means havingwedge facescooperating wit movement of said cooperating elements, and provide forpreliminary action durmg the compression stroke of the mechanism; a'

- spring resistance opposing relative movement of said friction shelland elements having engagement therewith; and an independent springresistance opposing movement of the remaining friction elements duringthe entire compression stroke of the mechanism.

10. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction shell; of a central friction post; a friction wedge systemcooperatin with said shell and post, said system inclu ing a pluralityof friction shoes having limited relative movement and s reading meansfor cooperating with the s oes, said spreading means and each of saidshoes having cooperating sets of wedge faces, the wedge faces of one setbeing angularly disposed with respect tothe wedge faces of the otherset; pressure transmitting means; spring resistance elements cooperatingwith said pressure transmitting means, one of said elements resistinginward movement of certain of said shoes and the other spring resistanceelement opposing inward movement of the remainin shoes during the entirecompression stro e of the mechanism,

said pressure transmitting element directly cooperating with said lastnamed shoes.

'11. In a friction shock absorbing mech anism, the combination with afriction shell having a'plurality of friction surfaces and" mem rshaving a plurality of wedge faces cooperating with the two sets ofshoes,the cooperating wedge facesof said wedge and shoes which engage thefriction shell being normally separated to permit limited relativemovement of said two sets of shoes duraction of-the mechanism.

inglprelimina witness at I claim the foregpsing I have hereuntosubscribed my name t 20th day of July, 1927. a

Y JOHN F. OCONNQR,

